Day: July 18, 2026

Lahore: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF-USA), the world’s largest non-governmental environmental conservation organisation, has lauded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for achieving a significant milestone in the protection of the endangered Indus River dolphin.

The WWF-USA described the establishment of the Panjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary as a historic initiative aimed at conserving and increasing the population of the rare freshwater species. It welcomed the establishment of Punjab’s first protected natural habitat dedicated to the conservation of the Indus River dolphin.

The project to declare the sanctuary a protected area was initiated by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The sanctuary covers approximately 123 miles of the Indus River and includes the historic confluence where Punjab’s five rivers meet. The habitat of the Indus River dolphin has been shrinking steadily, placing the species at serious risk of extinction. Experts attribute the threats to increasing river pollution and alterations to the natural river system.

According to experts, only about 2,000 Indus River dolphins remain worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of their natural habitat has been lost over the past century due to the construction of dams and barrages. Punjab is currently home to approximately 660 Indus River dolphins, with more than 600 recorded in the province and nearly two-thirds of them found within the sanctuary area.

The new sanctuary will also be connected to the existing protected area in Sindh, creating a legally protected continuous river habitat stretching approximately 249 miles. Conservationists emphasize that such protected river corridors are vital for the survival, movement, feeding, and breeding of dolphin populations fragmented by dams and barrages.

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Friday said the provincial government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was introducing historic and transformative reforms in the education, healthcare and public transport sectors to ensure that the benefits of development reached every city and every segment of society across Punjab.

She said the Punjab government was investing in the future of the youth by providing laptops, scholarships and electric bikes to students. She added that the Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence project would usher in a new era of academic excellence by promoting quality education and providing talented students with world-class learning opportunities.

Azma Bokhari said significant progress had also been made in the healthcare sector, adding that the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore and the Cardiology Hospital in Sargodha had been completed. She said patients at government hospitals across Punjab were receiving free medicines and essential diagnostic tests at no cost, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

The minister said the Punjab government was expanding the network of green electric buses from district headquarters to tehsil level to provide modern, safe and environmentally friendly public transport. She added that the air-conditioned electric buses had become a major source of comfort and convenience for commuters during the ongoing summer heat.

Azma Bokhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had ensured that government resources and public services reached every corner of Punjab. She said that unlike the past, when people had to visit multiple government offices for assistance, the government was now delivering services at citizens’ doorsteps. She added that the government’s commitment to public welfare, effective governance and service delivery distinguished it from previous administrations.

Lahore: Punjab Food Safety and Consumer Protection Secretary Dr Kiran Khurshid said on Friday that a crackdown on profiteering, overcharging and hoarding had been further intensified across the province in line with the directives of the Punjab government.

In this regard, Consumer Protection Punjab had released the performance report of the price control magistrates, according to which emergency operations were being carried out across Punjab to provide relief to the public, said a handout issued here.

Dr Kiran said that 1,635 price control magistrates were currently active in the field across the province and were performing their duties. During the past two weeks, these magistrates conducted raids at a total of 1,030,918 locations in all districts of Punjab. The secretary said that 5,395 shopkeepers and store owners were issued heavy fines, warnings and strict notices for failing to display official price lists at prominent places.

She further stated that strict legal action was taken against 50,283 individuals found guilty of overcharging and fines exceeding Rs 29.418 million were imposed. She said that in cases involving serious violations, 71 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against profiteers, while 1,746 individuals were arrested.

In addition, 209 shops and warehouses involved in profiteering, hoarding and other serious offences were sealed.

The secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment and said that protecting consumers’ rights and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of quality food items at reasonable prices was the top priority of the Punjab government.

Action against profiteers and those creating artificial inflation would continue without interruption under the government’s zero-tolerance policy, she added.

She said that no one would be allowed to exploit the public.

Lahore: Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi has chaired an important meeting at the National Hockey Stadium on Friday regarding the upcoming CM Punjab Champions League.

Deputy Director Sports Zahoor Ahmed attended the meeting in person while Vice President Pakistan Railways Sports Board Hamdan Nazir joined the meeting online.

The meeting reviewed organisational arrangements, team composition and the competition format for the league, which is scheduled to be held in the last week of July with the collaboration of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan Railway and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Addressing the meeting, Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi informed that the tournament would be played in four pools. Pool A will comprise teams from Bahawalpur, Lahore and Sargodha divisions, while Pool B will feature DG Khan, Lahore Green and Faisalabad. Pool C will include Multan, Lahore Blue and Gujranwala, whereas Pool D will consist of Sahiwal, Gujrat and Rawalpindi teams.

Qureshi said that the league would also feature four women’s teams, highlighting the commitment to promoting cricket among female athletes across Punjab.

‘The best performers emerging from the CM Punjab Champions League would be selected for the Punjab team, which will participate in the Pakistan Cup,’ he added.

The Director General Sports added that the competition would provide a valuable platform for talented cricketers to showcase their skills and earn higher-level opportunities. ‘The tournament would feature both national and international cricketers, making it a highly competitive event’.

Deputy Director Sports Zahoor Ahmed attended the meeting in person while Vice President Pakistan Railways Sports Board Hamdan Nazir joined the meeting online.

Lahore: The significant drop in gold prices in the global bullion market also affected the local market, where a major decline was recorded in the prices of both gold and silver.

The price of gold per ounce in the international market fell by $36 to $3,994, after which a decline in the prices of precious metals was also seen in Pakistan.

In the local bullion market, the price of gold per tola fell by Rs3,600 to Rs421,836, while the price of 10 grams of gold fell by Rs3,086 to Rs361,656.

On the other hand, silver prices also continued to decline. Silver per tola fell by Rs 126 to Rs 6,029, while the price of 10 grams of silver fell by Rs 108 to Rs 5,168.

Lahore: The Auxiliary Spillway of Tarbela Reservoir successfully operated today for the first time during Flood Season 2026.

The operation commenced at 1100 hours in strict accordance with all Standard Operating Procedures. The District Administration, local police, and all departments concerned were informed in advance through an official notification and via the designated Flood Coordination Center, according to WAPDA spokesman here Friday.

The spillway operation concluded smoothly at 1430 hours. A total of 242,600 cusecs of water was released into the Indus River downstream of Tarbela Dam. All technical and safety parameters remained well within safe limits throughout the operation.

The relevant authorities and administrative and security departments remained on high alert and ensured necessary precautionary measures for public safety.